Opening \O"pen*ing\, n.

1. The act or process of opening; a beginning; commencement; first appearance; as, the opening of a speech.

The opening of your glory was like that of light. --Dryden.

2. A place which is open; a breach; an aperture; a gap; cleft, or hole.

We saw him at the opening of his tent. --Shak.

3. Hence: A vacant place; an opportunity; as, an opening for business. [Colloq.]

--Dickens.

4. A thinly wooded space, without undergrowth, in the midst of a forest; as, oak openings. [U.S.]

--Cooper.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Open \O"pen\ v. t. [imp. & p. p. Opened; p. pr. & vb. n. Opening.]

[AS. openian. See Open,a.]

1. To make or set open; to render free of access; to unclose; to unbar; to unlock; to remove any fastening or covering from; as, to open a door; to open a box; to open a room; to open a letter.

And all the windows of my heart I open to the day. --Whittier.

2. To spread; to expand; as, to open the hand.

3. To disclose; to reveal; to interpret; to explain.

The king opened himself to some of his council, that he was sorry for the earl's death. --Bacon.

Unto thee have I opened my cause. --Jer. xx. 12.

While he opened to us the Scriptures. --Luke xxiv. 32.

4. To make known; to discover; also, to render available or accessible for settlements, trade, etc.

The English did adventure far for to open the North parts of America. --Abp. Abbot.

5. To enter upon; to begin; as, to open a discussion; to open fire upon an enemy; to open trade, or correspondence; to open a case in court, or a meeting.

6. To loosen or make less compact; as, to open matted cotton by separating the fibers.

To open one's mouth, to speak.

To open up, to lay open; to discover; to disclose.

Poetry that had opened up so many delightful views into the character and condition of our ``bold peasantry, their country's pride.'' --Prof. Wilson.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)